The Philadelphia Eagles are heading into their Wild Card Round matchup with the San Francisco 49ers, and the good news is that they're looking healthy after a week of rest. The team rested their starters during Week 18 against the Washington Commanders, which should give them an edge going into Sunday's game.
However, the 49ers are facing some significant challenges. They're missing two of their best defensive players, and their Week 18 matchup against Seattle was particularly physical. On the injury report, TE Grant Calcaterra is dealing with a knee/ankle issue but has been practicing, while iOL Brett Toth will miss the game due to a concussion.
The Eagles' RT Lane Johnson is also nursing an ankle injury but has practiced and is expected to play on Sunday. Meanwhile, LB Nakobe Dean and S Marcus Epps are full-go, which should help the team's defense. The 49ers' best pass rusher, DE Nick Bosa, is out for the season with a torn ACL.
The Niners have been thin at linebacker all season due to injuries, but they're counting on Eric Kendricks to step up and fill the void. Kendricks has had a relatively quiet year so far, playing in just three games, but he's still worth watching.
On offense, Ricky Pearsall is missing practice due to an ankle injury, while Trent Williams practiced but was limited and listed as questionable. The Niners are counting on their running game to carry them through the game against the Eagles' defense.
As we head into Sunday's matchup, it's clear that both teams have their strengths and weaknesses. The Eagles should be able to take advantage of the 49ers' lack of depth at linebacker, while San Francisco will need to rely on their offense to keep up with Philly's high-powered attack.
The key matchup to watch is the battle for the edge rushers. The Eagles' EDGE duo of Jaelan Phillips and Azeez Ojulari are looking healthy and should be able to put pressure on the 49ers' QB, while San Francisco will need to find ways to counter their pass rush.
However, the 49ers are facing some significant challenges. They're missing two of their best defensive players, and their Week 18 matchup against Seattle was particularly physical. On the injury report, TE Grant Calcaterra is dealing with a knee/ankle issue but has been practicing, while iOL Brett Toth will miss the game due to a concussion.
The Eagles' RT Lane Johnson is also nursing an ankle injury but has practiced and is expected to play on Sunday. Meanwhile, LB Nakobe Dean and S Marcus Epps are full-go, which should help the team's defense. The 49ers' best pass rusher, DE Nick Bosa, is out for the season with a torn ACL.
The Niners have been thin at linebacker all season due to injuries, but they're counting on Eric Kendricks to step up and fill the void. Kendricks has had a relatively quiet year so far, playing in just three games, but he's still worth watching.
On offense, Ricky Pearsall is missing practice due to an ankle injury, while Trent Williams practiced but was limited and listed as questionable. The Niners are counting on their running game to carry them through the game against the Eagles' defense.
As we head into Sunday's matchup, it's clear that both teams have their strengths and weaknesses. The Eagles should be able to take advantage of the 49ers' lack of depth at linebacker, while San Francisco will need to rely on their offense to keep up with Philly's high-powered attack.
The key matchup to watch is the battle for the edge rushers. The Eagles' EDGE duo of Jaelan Phillips and Azeez Ojulari are looking healthy and should be able to put pressure on the 49ers' QB, while San Francisco will need to find ways to counter their pass rush.